Ukraine sowed 25-30% less crops than last year

Ukraine sowed 25-30% less crops than last year. The volume of spring corn has been reduced, and farmers are switching to cheaper crops due to problems with logistics, fuel and machinery.

This was announced at a briefing by Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solsky.

“The sowing campaign in Ukraine, despite the circumstances, is quite active. There are obvious difficulties. First of all, they are related to logistics. Farmers and agricultural enterprises spend less money on basic things. They spend less on seed, but not critically. They have less money for herbicides, they save, given the interruptions with diesel,” he said.

According to the Minister, there is a lag in the sowing campaign in time after the curfew and the movement of equipment.

“Because part of the equipment is sent to the front. Like some people at the front. There are difficulties in storing products and fuel. All this has several consequences. The sowing campaign lasts longer,” he said.

“We see a lag in sowing, depending on crops and regions, of 25-30%. In addition to the problems that exist, the weather makes its adjustments. This year is colder than last. That is why sowing is being postponed to a later time,” Solsky added.

He said that the amount of spring corn has been reduced.

“Farmers are switching to sowing cheaper crops. In particular, spring wheat. The second trend is the transition to other crops, which give less yield per hectare … We note a shift in the volume of crops in the direction of sunflower and soybeans,” – said the head of the ministry.

Solsky stressed that about 7 million hectares have already been sown: “this is about 25% -30% less than in the same period last year. But objectively, spring is colder than last year.”

Tags: Ukraine, sowing